Box office update: '21 Jump Street' shoots up $13.1 million on Friday

R-rated comedy 21 Jump Street (starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill) topped the box office on Friday with a tremendous $13.1 million in its first 24 hours. The well-reviewed television adaptation–it earned a “B” CinemaScore grade–may pull in about $35 million over the Friday to Sunday period, which is a gross typically reserved for comedic summer tentpoles – not any old springtime release. I’d guess that 21 Jump Street’s terrific start will trigger a sequel announcement within a week. Sony could have a new smash franchise on their hands.

The rest of the box office wasn’t nearly as exciting. The Lorax churned up another $6.7 million in second place, and it seems headed for $27 million over three days. In third, John Carter dropped a troubling 59 percent from last Friday for only $4 million. Looks like those hoping for a sudden uptick for the $250 million bomb can stop holding their breath. It will only find about $13 million this weekend.

Rounding out the Top 5 were Project X and A Thousand Words with respective Friday grosses of $1.5 million and $1.2 million. They each may pull in about $4 million over the full frame.